Nicole Kidman explains her bizarre Oscars clap

She sent the internet into hysterics after she was seen bizarrely applauding in a seal-like fashion at the Oscars last month.

And Nicole Kidman, 49, has finally broken her silence on the incident, confessing to KIIS FM's Kyle And Jackie O that she was afraid of damaging her giant Harry Winston diamond ring.

'It was really awkward, and I was like: 'Gosh, I really want to clap', she explained.

'I don't want to not be clapping, which would be worse right? Why isn't Nicole clapping?' she said, mimicking what she believed would be the subsequent media headlines.

'So therefore I'm clapping but it was really difficult because I had this huge ring on which was not my own but was absolutely gorgeous and I was terrified of damaging it,' she said.

Indeed, Nicole was bejewelled with over 119 carats worth of Harry Winston diamonds, including a 13.58-carat cluster pearl-shaped diamond ring set in platinum.

- Daily Mail